Honeywell Aerospace has announced the successful validation of a new satellite communications antenna designed to enable safe, reliable command-and-control of unmanned aircraft flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The technology was validated in partnership with Viasat using its satellite network under real flight conditions.
Developed at Honeywell Aerospace’s European R&D center in Brno, Czechia as part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Iris Global programme, the lightweight antenna provides continuous connectivity to enable real-time flight control, airspace awareness and conflict avoidance. Czech industrial partners have contributed to prototype production, and Brno University of Technology supported radio-frequency validation.
“During the demonstrations, operators were able to adjust flight trajectories and maintain safe separation from other airspace users when potential conflicts were detected, including scenarios where another drone crossed a planned flight path,” Honeywell Aerospace said in an August 18 press release. The antenna was integrated with the company’s VersaWave satcom system, enabling switching between satellite and terrestrial networks for uninterrupted command-and-control.
The flights at Budkovice Airport were part of a broader test campaign demonstrating how resilient connectivity supports safe drone integration into shared airspace. Several missions were conducted within a U-space environment. Frequentis provided its Uncrewed Traffic Management (UTM) system, enabling secure data exchange for operator registration, flight authorisations and geo-awareness. Meanwhile, a Honeywell Aerospace ground control station (GCS) equipped with a ground-based detect-and-avoid (DAA) system processed telemetry from both the drone and a crewed aircraft acting as an intruder. This consolidated airspace picture enabled the GCS to identify potential conflicts, alert the operator and recommend safe route adjustments.
Once an updated flight plan was approved by the operator, it was uploaded and executed automatically, illustrating how resilient connectivity and automated U-space services can work together to ensure safe BVLOS operations.
Honeywell Aerospace is now preparing the antenna for industrial production and evaluating Czech suppliers for inclusion in its manufacturing supply chain.
The initiative is co-funded by ESA, with additional support from the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.
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Image: Honeywell Aerospace